Workstation

ABSTRACT

A workplace is suggested that has work surfaces and especially desk surfaces in a body which can be opened up. To attain a spacious interior, two opposing side walls (3, 4) are connected via hinges (15, 16) to a transverse wall (5) to allow the body to be unfolded as a workplace with a large area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to workplaces in general, and morespecifically, to a collapsible workstation.

In general, a "workplace" is any spatially delimited site in a businessor private residence at which a person works. The setup of workplacesparticularly influences the stress and the work output of those workingthere. For this reason, the best possible workplace design is sought. Ingeneral, a difference is drawn between industrial and office workplaces.Such workplaces are designed differently according to their use.

An office workplace is generally identified as a desk in the broadestsense. Modern desks offer numerous design possibilities of desk surfacearrangements. In particular at computer workplaces, work is carried outon surfaces at different heights to achieve an ergonomic operation ofthe individual devices and to allow the persons at this workplace towork in an ergonomic manner.

The work at workplaces in offices or production facilities is generallyorganized by assigning each person an individual workplace. This allowsworkers to individually complete their work assignments and best usetheir workplace.

The disadvantage of conventional workplaces is generally that theyrequire a great amount of space because of the variety of required worksurfaces and their fixed and inflexible spatial arrangement. It isfurthermore disadvantageous that the workplaces always have to becleaned or cleared by the people working at them, especially in officeswith several workplaces. This takes up a significant amount of worktime. When a worker is absent, the workplace generally must be cleared,i.e., individual jobs must be temporarily set aside. From this vantagepoint, the so-called "secretarials" familiar from years back seem to bequite an advantage with work surfaces on several levels; in particular,they could be closed with a roll top or something similar without havingto be cleaned up at the end of the day. This had the advantage ofeliminating unnecessary clean-up so that, when starting work again,workers could begin immediately at the point where they left off.

An office container has e.g. been made known in DE 41 06 141 that isparticularly useful as a computer workplace. A storage surface isprovided for the devices. This well-known office container also hasother storage and writing surfaces.

This office container is also built like a cabinet and, as a whole, isnot suited for use as a conventional desk.

The invention is based on the task of creating a workplace that can beused very flexibly in an office or production facility and as anindividual workplace adapted to the user.

The invention is based on the concept that a flexible workplace can onlybe created when its spatial arrangement is flexible, i.e., it can beused in most any location, and it can be individualized. This yieldscompletely new areas and optimal conditions for use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The workplace according to the invention is constructed like a containerworkplace that, in its original position, is a closed body (containerbox), preferably with a rectangular design, which can be transported. Inits most compact form such a body has the shape of a cabinet, box, etc.and is opened when used and unfolds into a workplace system. Theindividual workplace elements are swung e.g. on two vertical swivelingaxes of a transverse side wall so that the original box yields an openworkplace preferably arranged at an angle.

This workplace contains numerous work surfaces, drawers, shelves, etc.that are attached to the individual side walls and rendered accessibleby opening up the workplace system. When closed, the individual worksurfaces are adapted to each other so that they work together withoutcolliding and are arranged in different planes. When unfolded, a workarea results with writing and storage surfaces, which makes lightingdevices, storage areas, pinning surfaces, etc. accessible on an area offour square meters. Even a correspondingly arranged chair can beintegrated into the closed workplace.

Such a workplace is preferably manufactured with base dimensions of120×80 cm to correspond to the common transport dimensions of aeuropallet. This allows the workplace to be loaded and transported usinga europallet. On site, the workplace is transported on castors so thatit can be moved by individuals.

The workplace also has the advantage that it has two "faces". On the onehand, the "external face" belongs to the business and represents thecompany image with a unified and formal design. On the other hand, theinside represents the character of the user and allows highly individualfurnishing without conflicting with the company image.

The workplace can be reconfigured as needed so that one can be shieldedfrom the environment. Due to its ability to be manipulated, theworkplace can be turned toward the neighboring workplace or form a groupworkplace for another activity.

Another advantage is that the respective workplaces do not have to becleaned up. They can be left in any condition when the body is closed.The possibility of leaving all one's jobs as they are in the middle ofwork even though the body is closed makes it unnecessary to reorganizewhen recommencing work. This makes it much easier to get back intocertain jobs, e.g., at the beginning of the week or after a vacation.

The workplace according to the invention hence allows greaterflexibility in work hours as well as work structuring with lessorganizational effort. Traditional workplaces can be transformed intoflexible workplaces that can be easily used for temporary jobs. Inparticular, each temporary worker's workplace is not changed, i.e., theyreceive their own workplace during their temp job, and the workplace canbe closed up afterwards. The workplace according to the invention istherefore a complete workplace that can be closed while the user isabsent and moved to another site when space is needed.

It is well-known that in many companies, the organization andadministration are decentralized and performed on-site. In theseinstances, the workplace according to the invention can be directly andflexibly assigned to different departments on a short-term basis, i.e.,an engineer can for example temporarily move his workplace from theoffice to manufacturing.

Another advantage of the workplace according to the invention is that itcan be moved to any desired site. Such workplaces can be used whereverworkplaces are needed for a specific period, e.g., fairs, conventions,functions, construction projects, etc. This is especially true for Worktemporarily relocated to one's residence. A company workplace can easilybe moved to a private residence, and the workplace in the home can beclosed and stored in a small space at the end of the workday.

Another invention design example has an even more compact workplaceconstruction which is e.g. only 70 cm long and 50 cm wide when closed.The basic principle described above is retained here as well.

Further details and advantages of the workplace according to theinvention are in the drawings that will be further explained insubsequent design examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an opened workplace.

FIG. 2 is the workplace shown in FIG. 1 in closed position.

FIG. 3 is another representation of the workplace in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4a is a different possible arrangement of the workplace.

FIG. 4b is another possible embodiment of the workplace;

FIG. 5a is another design example of a workplace;

FIG. 5b is a top view of the design in FIG. 5a;

FIG. 6a is an opened view of the workplace of FIG. 5a;

FIG. 6b is a top view of the opened workplace of FIG. 5a;

FIG. 7a is a still further expanded view of the workplace of FIG. 5a;

FIG. 7b is a top view of FIG. 7a;

FIG. 8a is an even further expanded view of the workplace of FIG. 5a;

FIG. 8b is a top view of FIG. 8a;

FIG. 9a is an even still further expanded view of the workplace of FIG.5a;

FIG. 9b is a top view of FIG. 9a; and

FIG. 10 is a final possible embodiment of the workplace of FIG. 5a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The representation of the invention in FIG. 1 shows an open workplace 1that is especially useful as an office workplace. The same workplace isshown closed in FIG. 2 as a cabinet-like body 2 or container box 2.

The body 2 which can be closed or opened to form a workplace 1 consistsof two longitudinal side walls 3, 4, a first transverse side wall 5 andan opposing second transverse side wall 6. The closed body has a lengthL=120 cm, a width B=80 cm and a height H=110 cm. The base area of L×B issuitable for placing the body on a conventional europallet fortransport.

The body 2 also has a top cover consisting of two separate cover panels7, 8 and a largely open floor area 9. The second transverse side wall 6itself is designed as an independent cabinet body 10 from which ashelving insert 11 can be laterally withdrawn (see FIG. 3). The outercontour 12 of the first transverse side wall 5 follows a regularcylinder which gives the body a corresponding design. On the bottom ofthe body 2 are individual castors 13 that enable each part to be stablymoved when unfolded.

A longitudinal central plane 14 is schematically indicated in FIG. 2that vertically divides the closed body.

To unfold the closed body shown in FIG. 2 to form a workplace, the firsttransverse side wall 5 has vertical hinges 15, 16 on either side, i.e.,the transverse side wall 5 is connected via hinge 15 to the firstlongitudinal side wall 3 and via hinge 16 to the second longitudinalside wall 4. When unfolded, the body initially divides approximatelyalong its longitudinal central plane of symmetry 14 so that the twocover plates 7, 8 separate at an angle. The longitudinal side wall 4 hasa transverse wall 17 at its end opposite the first transverse side wall5 which is approx. as wide as the top cover plate 8, i.e., the width=1/2B. On the bottom end of the transverse wall 17 are two end castors 13.When the workplace is closed, the transverse wall 17 contacts the insideof transverse wall 6 and extends approx. up to the longitudinal centralplane of symmetry 14. The longitudinal side walls 3 and 4 can swing overa swing angle of 0 to 270 degrees.

Corresponding to its cylindrical outer contour, the first transverseside wall 5 has top 18 and bottom 19 circle-segment end plates thatstabilize the side wall 5 and serve as a lateral termination to theother walls. In particular, the top section 18 lies in the same plane asthe two end covers 7, 8 when the body 2 is closed.

The inside of the opened workplace is formed by several work surfaces 20that are adjacent to each other and/or overlap without colliding whenthe workplace is folded together. Accordingly a first desk surface 21 isat height h₁ (normal desk height) above the bottom edge 22 of the body.Width b₁ is almost as wide as the overall width B of the body to yieldthe largest possible desk work surface. Length 1₁ is almost as long asthe overall length L minus width b₂ of the attached cabinet body 10 andwidth b₃ of the curved transverse side wall 5 or cover plate 18. In thiscase as well, nearly the entire length of the body is used for desksurface 21.

Desk surface 21 is assigned a small storage surface 23 with the samelength l₁ with width b₄ ≈1/4 b₁. It is slightly higher at height h₂ thandesk surface 21 and hence forms a double storage surface in this area.

The desk surface 21 and the other storage surface 23 are attached to theside and the associated transverse wall 17 (see also FIG. 3).

In FIG. 1, another desk surface 24 is located at the opposing side wall3 at height h₃ from the bottom edge 22. Height h₃ is the height of astanding desk. Width b₅ can be equal to width b₁, i.e., it can alsoextend across the entire inner width of the body. It can also bedesigned smaller.

Length 1₂ of desk surface 24 can approx. correspond to length L₁ of desksurface 21.

The two top cover panels 7, 8 are connected via hinges 25, 26 to theassociated longitudinal side wall 3, 4. The cover can be swung upvertically or assume any intermediate position as shown in FIG. 3. Whencovers 7 or 8 are swung up, the inside 27 of cover 7 or the inside 28 ofcover 8 can be used as a visual screen from the neighboring workplacesand as a bulletin board, display, etc.

In the bottom area, the two longitudinal side walls 3, 4 each have aninwardly-extending reinforcing board 29, 30. In particular, reinforcingboard 30 can be used as a foot rest when someone works on desk surface21. A vertical support wall 31 on reinforcing board 29 serves as a stopfor the bottom circular segment section 19 when the body is foldedtogether. At the same time, the bottom reinforcement boards 29, 30 serveto hold the necessary castors 13 on both sides of the first transverseside wall 5 and at the opposing end.

The shelving insert 11 which can be pulled out is guided on alongitudinal guide (not shown) in the front cabinet body 10. Its side 32facing the workplace has shelves, drawers, compartments, etc., and theoutside 33 is designed as a continuous wall. The shelves, etc. are onlyaccessible when the shelving insert 11 is withdrawn from the cabinetbody 10.

Swinging the top panels 7, 8 up and withdrawing the shelving insert 11allow the to create a visual shield with the pretense of utility withoutmaking other colleagues feel excluded.

The bottom of the body 2 has enough individual castors 13 to fullysupport moveable part.

In FIG. 3, an additional horizontal hinge 34 (drawn in a dashed line) isattached to the transverse wall 17 at the height of desk surface 21 towhich a folding table 35 is attached. This folding table 35 (drawn in adashed line) is a quarter-circle cross section; when swung up, it servesas an additional work surface, conference table or connecting surface tothe neighboring workplaces.

Shown in FIGS. 4a, 4b are a few design examples of the workplace 10according to the invention. Each workplace may have an additional seat(not shown in FIGS. 1-3) that can be integrated with the closed body.This can be accomplished by installing a corresponding supportconstruction or a chair holder within the body.

FIG. 4a shows six workplaces that are arranged in two adjacent rows. Asan example the middle workplace on the left of FIG. 4a is closed (as inFIG. 2), whereas the workplaces above and below are open. The workplaceis preferably opened to yield an angle α˜90-120° between thelongitudinal side walls 3, 4; and the longitudinal side walls 3, 4 areconnected by the diagonal transverse side wall 5.

In FIG. 4a on the top right, two workplaces facing the oppositedirection are connected to yield joined workplaces. The folding tables35 which can be swung up join at connecting edge 37. In FIG. 4a on thebottom right is a single workplace in its normal position, i.e., at aright angle. The additionally swung-up folding table 35 increases thework surface. The shelving insert 11 in the adjacent workplace iswithdrawn from the cabinet body 10.

FIG. 4b shows an alternative arrangement of workplaces in a room. Thiscould be the same room on another day. The workplaces are arrangedindividually, and each workplace k is assigned to or set up for theindividual working at them. After work ends, each workplace can beeasily closed and assume the shape in FIG. 2. Things do not have to becleaned up or moved around. A schematically illustrated locking system38 can make such a workplace inaccessible for unauthorized persons. Ofcourse, the respective side walls and top panels 7, 8 can be fixed andlocked in place and made inaccessible from the outside. The entireworkplace can be locked with the locking system 38. A bottom floor lockis generally not necessary since the workplace is inaccessible frombelow due to its great weight. This can be accomplished in specialinstances, however, by putting in certain floor panels.

In another design the transverse side wall 6 with the cabinet body 10can also be flexibly articulated via another hinge 39 to side wall 3. Inlike manner, side wall 17 can be articulated to side wall 4 via avertical hinge.

In another design example of the invention in FIGS. 5a, 5b-9a, 9b and inFIG. 10, another variation of the invention is represented with a morecompact arrangement. The respective FIGS. 5a-9a portray perspectiverepresentations of the same opened body in different working positions.FIGS. 5b-9b show the associated top views. FIG. 10 shows the basicworking arrangement of the workplace with withdrawn work surfaces.

In FIGS. 5-10, the same parts are given the same reference numbers asfar as they have already been noted in FIGS. 1-4. In addition, however,the different work surfaces and top panels are identified withupper-case letters A, A'-C, C' for greater clarity.

FIG. 5a shows the second design example with a closed or folded body 2'.FIG. 5b shows the corresponding top view. The length is L≈70 cm and thewidth B≈50 cm. The height corresponds to that in the design example inFIGS. 1-4.

The body 2' in FIGS. 5a, 5b is initially opened up to a 90° angleaccording to the perspective representation in FIG. 6a and top view inFIG. 6b, i.e., extending the side walls 3', 4' yields a correspondingright angle, and the walls are articulated to each other via the firsttransverse side wall 5'.

The top panels 7', 8' are identified as the first storage surfaces A,A'. The two equally-sized top panels can be swung up via associatedhorizontal hinges 25, 26 as is symbolically represented by top panel Ain FIG. 10.

The side wall 4' has another work surface 21' or B in an intermediateplane corresponding to table panel 21 in FIG. 1 that is articulated viaa horizontal hinge or joint 34' to vertical side panel 17' or B'. Atonly a slight distance below work surface B there is another,withdrawable work surface C that is articulated to another side wall 35'via a lateral horizontal hinge 34". In FIG. 6a the side walls 17', B'and 35', C' are arranged vertically and hence form the second transverseside wall 6' to seal off the side of the body when closed.

Parallel to side wall part 35' in FIG. 6a is a fixed bottom wall part 40as a side support with individual castors 13 underneath that is fixed toside wall 4'. Furthermore, FIGS. 6a, 6b show a box 41 connected to theside wall 3' with a drawer 42 that can be pulled out. The box 41 has atop storage surface 43. It extends across nearly the entire length ofside wall 3'. Another support castor 13 can be added on the bottom innerfront side.

The drawings in FIGS. 7a, 7b basically differ from those in FIGS. 6a, 6bin that table panel C below table panel B is pulled out, and side wall35', C' is also pulled forward attached to articulation 34".Corresponding telescoping guide rails (not shown) hold table surface Cin position. Side part 35' hence moves forward in contrast to stationarypart 40.

In the drawing of the workplace design in FIGS. 8a, 8b, the side wall17' is swung on its horizontal hinge 34' into a horizontal position toform table leaf B'. In addition, there is a sliding panel D under tablepanel C which is pulled out on corresponding telescoping guide rails onthe sides so that table panel D rests above box 41. The desk panel B andC are located approx. at normal desk height, and desk panel C isslightly below desk panel B.

To supplement the drawings in FIGS. 8a, 8b, the drawings in FIGS. 9a, 9bshow desk panel C' swung up on the side, and drawer 42 of box 41 ispulled out. Table panel B' in FIGS. 8a, 9a can be held horizontally by acable 44. The swung-up table leaf C is held by a telescoping guide rail45 that can be pulled out from its horizontal position on the sidesunder desk panel C.

The drawing in FIG. 10 shows a practical example of the presentinvention. The parts are marked with the corresponding references. Ashelving system 46 for binders 47 can be located on longitudinal sidewall 3'. The longitudinal side wall 4' can have a drawer system or smallpails container 47 above desk panel B. The transverse side wall 5' canbe designed as a bulletin board 48. Pull-out surface D is stored underdesk surface C and can be designed as a drawer holder. The box 41 canhave a printer 49 on its top 43.

The invention is not limited to the described and illustrated designexamples. It comprises all additional engineered designs andimprovements within the framework of the patent claims.

We claim:
 1. A collapsible workstation that collapses into a rectangularbox and opens to a usable workstation, comprising:a first transverseside wall; a first longitudinal side wall pivotally attached to thefirst transverse side wall with a vertical hinge; a second longitudinalside wall pivotally attached to the first transverse side wall with avertical hinge; a second transverse side wall attached to the secondlongitudinal side wall, the second transverse side wall having a wallsection pivotable about a horizontal transverse axis, whereby inhorizontal position forms a work surface, wherein the wall section ishidden from view when the workstation is collapsed; a first work surfaceattached to the first longitudinal side wall and extending beyond themid-point between the first and second longitudinal side walls when theworkstation is closed; and a second work surface attached to the secondlongitudinal side wall and extending beyond the mid-point between thefirst and second longitudinal side walls when the workstation is closed.2. The workstation of claim 1 wherein the first and second longitudinalside walls each include a castor to facilitate opening and closing aswell as transporting the workstation.
 3. The workstation of claim 1wherein the first and second work surfaces lie in different planes andwherein the work surfaces overlap when the workstation is closed.
 4. Theworkstation according to claim 1 wherein the first and second worksurfaces each extend across the entire length of the first and secondlongitudinal side walls, respectively.
 5. The workstation of claim 1further comprising a first top cover attached to the first longitudinalside wall and a second top cover attached to the second longitudinalside wall, wherein the first and second top cover meet when theworkstation is closed.
 6. The workstation of claim 5 wherein the firstand second top covers are attached to the respective first and secondlongitudinal side walls with a hinge.
 7. The workstation of claim 1wherein the first transverse side wall has a curved cross-section. 8.The workstation of claim 1 wherein a third transverse side wall isattached to the first longitudinal side wall and is configured as acabinet body with a withdrawable shelving insert.
 9. The workstation ofclaim 1 wherein the first longitudinal side wall is pivotable over apivot angle of from 0-270°.
 10. The workstation of claim 1 wherein thesecond longitudinal side wall is pivotable over a pivot angle of from0-270°.
 11. A collapsible workstation that collapses into a rectangularbox and opens to a usable workstation, comprising:a first transverseside wall; a first longitudinal side wall pivotally attached to thefirst transverse side wall with a vertical hinge, wherein the firstlongitudinal side wall is pivotable over a pivot angle of from 0-270°; asecond longitudinal side wall pivotally attached to the first transverseside wall with a vertical hinge, wherein the second longitudinal sidewall is pivotable over a pivot angle of from 0-270°; a second transverseside wall attached to the second longitudinal side wall; a first worksurface attached to the first longitudinal side wall and extendingbeyond the mid-point between the first and second longitudinal sidewalls when the workstation is closed; a second work surface attached tothe second longitudinal side wall and extending beyond the mid-pointbetween the first and second longitudinal side walls when theworkstation is closed; and wherein the first and second longitudinalside walls each include a castor to facilitate opening and closing aswell as transporting the workstation.
 12. The workstation of claim 11further comprising a box with drawers attached to one of the side walls.